Why are stock system getting better?

consumers want a good sounding stock system. auto makers want a added selling point. but i do not think that will keep people from buying aftermarket equipment.  premium stock systems are a guarantee that manufactures can make money, if they sell 100 amps to "Jose audio hut" or 10,000 total systems to Toyota. they are making $$ both ways, OEM units are not as high quality as the aftermarket units, most consumers know that and will want to upgrade. to get the desired sound they are after even if it's just a simple sub install.  all the stock systems ive heard are ear fatiguing and i want to turn them off after a wile.       is car audio dead?

like the last guy said, Its all about money. These manufactures are building cheaper and cheaper passable parts and raising the prices every year, 10 years ago a high dollar head unit would last a lifetime, my brother has an alpine head unit he bought back around 90, paid 400+ at a stereo shop and its out lasted 5 trucks/vans it still sounds as good today as it did 5 years ago and i'm pretty sure that if you can get past the tape player it would easily last another 10 years, i seriously doubt anyone will make that claim about a new alpine unit. Again i'm not trashing the companies its just the way the world is shifting, my brand new alpine does things no one would of thought about 10 years ago and today its needed because people require more quality and features, car manufactures are in the same boat people realize they can upgrade and get better sound quality in the aftermarket, they add this into the cost of the car they are thinking about buying, if ford can put in a premium sound package its a selling point.

Most higher end customers will be happy with this for awhile. Now the true audiophile will upgrade as quickly as they can get the cash out of their wallets, some will want tricked out fiberglass enclosures with systems so loud it shatters the rear window others just want improved sq over factory, in the end the aftermarket will benefit from this because companies like jbl are making more money off cheaper products that meet OE specs and provide added sound, this translates into them making better and hopefully more affordable aftermarket alternatives, it will also lead to tighter competition between aftermarket audio sources because if you have a jbl factory system and memphis audio wants your business their stuff must be good enough to convince you to spend the cash for their new products.

I love hearing all of these opinions. I agree with a few of you guys. For starters I will never be happy with a stock system they will never come with a pair of subs. My point is that a majority of customers will be very happy with the stock sound I not talkinng about the guys on this forum . If everybody is like me they will never be happy with stock. Take for example the avalon the only thing that customer bought was an ipod interface. I think car audio is slowing down alot compared to the 90's. The real money is in the sat.,nav.,ipod and multimeadia nowadays.Well I just wanted to say thanks for all the replies.